Cost is $15 for residents, $138 for nonresidents. Antlerless licenses will be discounted in the tuberculosis zone and in Kent County, where chronic wasting disease was detected last summer. Discounted licenses cost $9 for residents and $82.80 for nonresidents.

The DNR created four new DMUs this year. Newaygo County was divided into northern and southern DMUs. In the eastern UP, former DMU 049 was divided into eastern and western units.

Two new multi-county DMUs were also created for private land in the lower peninsula.

Antlerless deer license quotas set
The state Natural Resources Commission approved a quota of 728,100 antlerless deer licenses for the upcoming deer season. That's an increase of 87,025 more licenses.

The quotas were reduced in the upper peninsula for both public and private land tags to reflect changes in the herd size there, probably due to the severe winter.

By contrast, the deer herd has increased in size in the northern lower peninsula. The license increases are intended to maintain the population at the current size except in the bovine TB zone, where wildlife biologists still want the population reduced to decrease the risk of disease transmission.

Fewer deer check stations this hunting season
State budget cuts will mean there'll be fewer deer check stations this hunting season, with more than half of the DNR's 125 stations closed and the rest only operating during the Nov. 15--30 firearms season.

The changes are estimated to save the DNR Wildlife Division more than a half-million dollars.

The decision reflects budget cuts in both General Fund and Game and Fish Protection Fund dollars.

The mail survey will continue to provide additional harvest data necessary to make management decisions.

A finalized list of check stations operating this firearms deer season will be announced closer to the fall.